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Doctor Dolittle

As the new stage production of Doctor Dolittle begins to take shape in the rehearsal room, The Lowry is pleased to provide a first glimpse at images and footage showcasing some of its exotic menagerie of animal friends.

Doctor Dolittle, with book, music and lyrics by double Academy Award-winner Leslie Bricusse, will head to The Lowry this Christmas (Tue 11 December 2018 – Sat 5 January 2019) as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the original film starring Rex Harrison.

Nick Barnes and Caroline Bowman are responsible for creating the collection of puppets that will be an integral part of the production. Caroline Bowman, Associate Puppet Designer, said “Nobody has ever seen puppets like these before. I think these are puppets beyond your wildest dreams.” Nick Barnes, Puppet Designer, added “It’s a real privilege to be able to create puppets for a show like this where there’s going to be a wonderful cast of people operating them and performing with them. We’re very excited.”

Meet The Puppets

The show will feature amazing puppetry, take a sneak peak here…

Mark Williams will play the title role during the show’s run at The Lowry with Brian Capron, Vicky Entwistle, Adèle Anderson, Mollie Melia-Redgrave and Patrick Sullivan playing Albert Blossom/Straight Arrow, Polynesia, Lady Bellowes/Poison Arrow, Emma Fairfax and Matthew Mugg respectively.

Eccentric Doctor Dolittle embarks on an extraordinary adventure to find the Giant Pink Sea Snail that holds the secret of life and makes the world a happier place. Helped by his human companions and an exotic menagerie of animal friends, including the Pushmi-Pullyu and trusty sidekick Polynesia the parrot, the larger-than-life Doctor Dolittle teaches us not only to talk to the animals but to listen to them as well!

The new stage production of Doctor Dolittle will be directed by Christopher Renshaw (Le Grand Mort, Zorro, Taboo, We Will Rock You, The King and I), with choreography by Josh Rhodes (Carousel and Sweeney Todd at the London Coliseum, Company starring Neil Patrick Harris for PBS, and Cinderella and Bright Star on Broadway), design by Tom Piper (Associate Designer at the RSC from 2004 to 2014, and designed the installation for the Tower of London poppies installation and subsequent tours – original concept and Poppies by Paul Cummins), puppet design by Nick Barnes, puppet direction by Jimmy Grimes, lighting by Chris Davey, sound by Ben Harrison, and musical supervision by Mike Dixon (most recent theatre includes Mrs Henderson Presents, Oh What A Lovely War, Bodyguard, Taboo, Hair, Zorro, Never Forget and We Will Rock You).

Doctor Dolittle is based on the Doctor Dolittle stories by Hugh Lofting and the Twentieth Century Fox film.

Doctor Dolittle is performed by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) Ltd.

The UK & Ireland Tour of Doctor Dolittle is produced by Music & Lyrics Limited, the producers behind the highly successful recent tours of The Addams Family, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Oklahoma!, Fiddler on the Roof, High Society and The King and I, in association with Churchill Theatre Bromley.